More than one in 10 people in UK were born overseas

THE proportion of overseas-born people living in Britain has risen to more than one in 10 after the number of foreign residents increased by 300,000 last year, it was revealed today.

Figures issued by the Government's Office for National Statistics show that there are now 6.5 million foreign-born residents out of a total population of just over 60 million.

Fewer than a third (31 per cent) of those born overseas moved to this country to work - meaning that about four million arrived to study, as family members or as refugees - and the number coming here for jobs is falling.

This figure could ease fears about the impact of migration on Britons' job prospects while increasing concerns about the effect on public services.

Other disclosures in a batch of reports published today include a 10 per cent rise in asylum applications and fewer removals of failed claimants, although there was a five per cent increase in the overall total of migrants returned home by the Home Office.

The number of foreign citizens given the right to settle in the UK was up by 17 per cent to 145,965, with more than 60,000 of these approvals granted to overseas nationals working here.

Among those migrating to Britain for jobs, the figures show a drop in arrivals from Poland and the other East European countries which joined the EU in 2004 - with a total of 165,000 last year, down from 218,000.

Separate statistics on national insurance numbers also reveal that 720,000 new numbers were issued to foreign nationals in the 12 months to September last year - seven per cent down on the previous annual tally. There is no information, however, on how many of last year's migrants, and those who came earlier, have returned home despite ministerial claims that the numbers departing is on the rise.

On the overall make-up of the population, today's figures show that of the 6.5 million UK residents born overseas, 4.1 million are still foreign nationals with the remainder either becoming or being born British citizens.

In London, 2.4million residents come from overseas - about a third of the capital's population - and just over five million were born in this country.

Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the drop in eastern European arrivals and the rise in removals of illegal migrants showed that official policies were effective. He added: "The Government is doing everything it can to ensure migration is working for the British labour market and the country as a whole. This will ensure that during these economic times, when people are losing jobs, people already here have the first crack of the whip at getting work."

Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green said the statistics showed that the Government's immigration and asylum systems were "unable to cope". He added: "The fact that so many foreign workers are being allowed to settle highlights how foolish Gordon Brown's British jobs promise was and the figures also show the pressure that public services are continuing to feel because of migration."

Ministers announced plans at the weekend to tighten the new "points-based" immigration system by reviewing the rights of family members of migrants to move here and by considering whether to restrict further the flow of more highly skilled workers who might otherwise compete with British graduates and others.